The results of a panic-sowing session - an overcrowded greenhouse. Photograph: Tom Hoblyn

SaturdayOur stored winter vegetables have finally run out; the wizened potatoes are more shoots than tuber, remaining onions and garlic are just empty husks, even the Jerusalem artichokes have run dry (but I bet more are lurking in the garden somewhere). The trouble is, late autumn sowings are yet to mature and barely germinated in the cold frames.

Between taxiing children to various sporting events, I spent the day panic-sowing in the greenhouse until there was no bench space left.

MondayMark Straver of the appropriately named nursery Hortus Loci, is growing the bulk of my plants for the Arthritis Research UK Garden at Chelsea. We have been sourcing plants since last July for the show, but in some cases, deliberately leaving them where sourced. For example, my main shrub, Punica granatum var. nana, is still in Italy to give it some hope of being in leaf for Chelsea.

I spent the day at the nursery going through the collection working up planting combinations for a planting plan. The absent punica will be used to create a kind of cloudy naturalised knot that will weave through the scheme, reminiscent of the knot gardens of Villa Lante. I then want to weave in ribbons of colour being careful to highlight rather than disguise the knot. The Rhus crenata, Teucrium fruticans and Myrtus communis should do this. In fact, if the punica doesn't leaf up for Chelsea, the Rhus crenata could easily take its place. Like the pomegranate, the young leaves are tinged with brownie-red and will go well with the Fritillaria persica.

TuesdayDrove down to Bristol to see Jekka McVicar. She is growing herbs for the gravelly parts of the Chelsea garden. I am keen to create little colonies of Mediterranean plants in the less-travelled parts of the paths, mimicking the maquis of Italy. I therefore need perfect hedgehog mounds of shrubby herbs and little pockets for opportunist self seeders.

In the mound department, Jekka has done a fabulous job in nurturing the Cotula hispida through the winter and they look Chelsea standard already. She is growing four species of artemisia for the show, all of which are looking pretty good. Artemisia abrotanum is a bit of a rarity and will be exhibited at Chelsea for the first time. The poppy will be the main self-seeder, and Jekka has grown loads to make sure we stand a chance of having something in flower on the day.

WednesdayOn my way back from Bristol, I popped in to see Chris and Toby Marchant of Orchard Dene nurseries. They have been friends for years, and also first showed me the ropes when it came to exhibiting at shows. They very kindly act as sort of plant mentors for me. I get so wrapped up with a planting idea involving naturalised knots that some grounding advice is often needed. It seems that the direction I am heading in is sound, but I should still source back ups.

ThursdayOn my way back from Oxfordshire, Mark Straver called to say that my Osmanthus x burkwoodii clipped balls had arrived from Europe, but had some frost damage due to the extreme cold – so much for leaving things in favourable climes.

I diverted down to Hampshire to see the extent of the damage, but it was nothing a light clipping couldn't sort out. Reassuringly, these perfectionist nurserymen get very panicky as Chelsea looms.

The first asparagus spear of the season. Photograph: Tom Hoblyn

FridaySpeaking of panicky: I had to conserve fuel leaving Hampshire as mass hoarders had emptied every diesel pump between Hook and Bury St Edmunds.

With a glass of wine, I went to inspect progress in the vegetable garden and greenhouse. There had been morning frosts all week, which had hindered things somewhat and possibly even nailed the peach blossom, but at the base of the peach, I noticed the first asparagus spear of the season. Nettles and asparagus this weekend.

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